Books
8 of the best audiobooks of 2017
There’s nothing quite like getting lost in a good audiobook. Audio allows for a truly immersive experience, bringing the characters to life and placing you right in the middle of the story. We can’t think of a better way to relax and escape after a long day.
We’ve pulled together a list of eight unmissable audiobooks from the 2017. If you’re yet to catch the audio bug, why not give one a try?
The Thirst by Jo Nesbo, read by Sean Barrett
After the brutal homicide of a woman, the Oslo Police Force know exactly whom to call: brilliant and unorthodox police investigator Harry Hole. When he suspects a link with one of his cold cases, it’s a race against time to catch the elusive killer.
Sean Barrett has to be one of the best narrators around. He does a wonderful job of getting into the character of Harry Hole and understanding what makes him tick, making for a truly believable and authentic story.
Blood Sisters by Jane Corry, read by Zoe Thorne & Emilia Fox
Three little girls set off to school one sunny May morning. Within an hour one of them is dead. Fifteen years later, someone is watching – someone who wants revenge for what happened that day. And only another life will do.
Lose yourself in the chilling second novel from the author of My Husband’s Wife. We see the story unfold from the eyes of two different characters, narrated perfectly by Zoe Thorne and Emilia Fox, and the tension builds and builds with every chapter.
Good Me Bad Me by Ali Land, read by Hannah Murray
Annie’s mother is a serial killer. The only way Annie can make it stop is to hand her in to the police. Now, with a new family and a new name, surely she can be whomever she wants to be. But blood is thicker than water and she is, after all, her mother’s daughter. Can she escape the secrets of her past that keep her awake at night?
This is one of the most absorbing and engrossing audiobooks you’ll ever listen to. Hannah Murray’s dark, haunting narration will hook you in and grip you long into the night.
The Girl Before by JP Delaney, read by Emilia Fox, Finty Williams & Lise Aagaard Knudsen
Jane stumbles on the rental opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to live in a beautiful house provided she follows a long list of exacting rules. After moving in, she discovers that a previous tenant met a mysterious death there – and starts to wonder if her own story will be a re-run of the girl before.
Addictive and tense, you’ll speed through this story desperate to know what happens next. The narration flows beautifully – we promise you’ll be captivated.
Into the Water by Paula Hawkins, read by Laura Aikmen, Sophie Aldred, Rachel Bavidge, Imogen Church and Daniel Weyman
In the last days before her death, Nel called her sister. Jules didn’t pick up the phone, ignoring her plea for help. Now Nel is dead. They say she jumped – but Jules knows she would never have done so.
Told from multiple viewpoints, this is a complex tale that really highlights how the same events can be interpreted in many different ways. The narrators bring each character to life, making the mystery all the more chilling.
Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney, read by Stephanie Racine
Right from the very beginning of this debut – as the title suggests – Amber Reynolds makes it clear that she is an unreliable narrator. She also informs us that she’s currently in a coma and that her husband no longer loves her.
What follows is a psychological thriller that really packs a punch. It’s full of twists and turns that certainly do not disappoint. Stephanie Racine’s reading is emotional and believable, adding a real sense of authenticity to the story.
You Don’t Know Me by Imran Mahmood, read by Adam Deacon
An unnamed defendant is accused of murder. Before the Closing Speeches, he sacks his lawyer, and gives his own defence. As he talks us through the evidence, his life is in our hands. We, the listener – a member of the jury – must listen to his story and decide: did he do it?
For anyone who found themselves hooked on Serial, this audiobook, with note-perfect narration by Kidulthood and Adulthood star Adam Deacon, is absolutely unmissable. It’s bold, slick and compulsive, providing a searingly honest account of a life spent in London’s lawless underworld.
Mad by Chloé Esposito, read by Emily Atak
Alvie’s heart is in the wrong place. Perhaps that’s why nothing in her life has ever gone right. Until now. Fate has given her the chance to steal her identical twin’s perfect life. It’s just a shame Beth had to die to make Alvie’s dreams come true.
Mad is the first in the shocking and compulsively listenable Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know trilogy and the beginning of a roller-coaster ride that you won’t forget in a hurry.
#LoveAudio? Let us know your best crime audiobooks of 2017 in the comments below!
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